Before I start putting down my list, I would like to say this: it was my original intention to keep out Ilayaraja and A.R.Rahman compositions out of the list so that I could give the other guys a fair chance. But as I hunted for non-Raja, non-Rahman SPB hits, I realized it just wouldn’t do to keep out the pillars of Tamil music from a list of this highly prolific(Guinness record if you read sndaya’s review) singer’s best songs. So, as usual, I commence with songs of my favourite Raja, moving on later to the others: 1.Mandram Vandha Thendralukku - Mouna Raagam: What A song! Unless you try to sing this song aloud you will never really know what a terrific job SPB has done. He has delivered an incredibly controlled yet heartbreaking performance. Without doubt, to my mind the greatest and most path-breaking sad song in all of Tamil film music. 2.Enna Sartham Indha Neram - Punnagai Mannan: Again, the meeting of two great talents - Ilayaraja and SPB - creates magic. Really, the experience of listening to both of them at their finest is heavenly. Raja’s incredibly tender handling of the guitar and flute is brilliantly complemented by SPB’s superlative rendition. 3.Arachcha Santhanam - Chinna Thambi:The magic continues, but now the majestic violins and even synthesizers dance to a rustic beat. SPB brings out the folk flavour so well you wouldn’t believe he’s NOT from the Tamil heartland. 4.Ilamayenum Poongatru - Pagalil Oru Iravu: The situation is not the most pleasant, so only audio recommended! This was way back in 1978 and one of the first glimpses of just what this composer-singer combination was about to achieve over the next 15 years or so. 5.Angum Ingum - Avargal: Now, I am not much interested in M S Vishwanathan’s compositions, but then, he introduced SPB’s voice in Tamil cinema, so here’s one of the better songs of the duo. 6.Nalam Vaazha - Marupadiyum: This is the Tamil equivalent of Tum Itna Kyon Muskura Rahi Ho from Arth. By equivalent, I mean the movie situation is the same. But the song is entirely different and the pain more intense. With due respect to Jagjit Singh, his charming interludes cannot match Ilayaraja’s genius, and personally, I find SPB’s performance more touching. 7.Neelavana Odayil - Vaazhvey Maayam: Thanks, Daya sir, for reminding me of this song. One of Raja’s younger sibling, Gangai Amaran’s fe memorable compositions. But this song will love on forever. What a tune and what singing! 8.En Kadhaale - Duet: Now for some A R Rahman. SPB opens his heart in this song, tearing you apart in the passionate highs. Not to mention Kadari Gopalnath’s superb saxophone solos in the interludes. 9.Thodha Thodha Malarndhadhenna - Indira: Well, SPB has to share credit with Chitra here. Difficult to say who’s better in this song, but one thing’s for sure - they have both given what will rank among their best performances and that for such legendary singers is something. Even in his early movies, A R Rahman knew just how to extract the best out of all singers - the renowned and the unknown. 10.Sangeetha Megam - Udhaya Geetham: Back to Raja. Now this song has to be there in every Best of SPB list. Enough said! 11.Idhu Oru Ponmalai - Nizhalgal: Another must in best-of-SPB lists. What a delightful, tranquil song! 12.Unnai Nanachen - Apoorva Sagotharargal: I said Mandram Vandha is the best ever sad song in Tamil music. This just about makes it to 2nd, barely ahead of Nilave Vaa, next in my list, only because of the brilliant 2nd interlude. Only Raja could have done it! 13.Nilave Vaa - Mouna Raagam: A lot of people would say this song ought to be ahead of Nilave Vaa, as SPB has arguably sung this one better than the other song in question. But when I rate a song, it’s not only on the basis of SPB’s performance. I take the overall musical experience into account and on that count this is just a shade below Unnai Nanachen in terms of intensity. 14.Nalam Nalamariyaaval - Kadhal Kottai: Deva is not known for his originality(?) as a composer. But this is one of the few gems that he did deliver. Real soul therapy this, Anuradha Sriram sharing honours with SPB. 15.Malare - Karna: One of the last few songs in which one got to see such splendid competition between SPB and S Janaki. Again, the verdict:it’s too close to call. They both excel. Kudos to Vidyasagar for bringing the legendary pair together for this lovely melody. 16.Yennai Kanavilayae - Kadhal Desam: This song was there in my ARR list and it gets a place here too. Brilliant tune! 17.Vaanile Thenila - Kaaki Sathai: I always thought Raja stretched S Janaki way too much on this song. But SPB’s buttersmooth rendition of this fast number makes you forget about it in no time. The period between 1984 to 86 was when SPB’s voice peaked. It remained great afterwards, but never got better. 18.Kalakalamaagha Vaazhum - Punnagai Mannan: Raja’s jazz lessons begin. OK, the opening bar is familiar from Deep Purple’s Strange Kind of Woman, but any similarities with rock end there. One of Chitra’s earliest hits, but SPB rules the roost in this song alright! 19.Raathiriyil Poothirikum - Thanga Mannan: There has to be at least one of Thalaivan’s hits, right? Brilliant Carnatic duet with S Janaki, with Raja’s brilliant Westernised interludes mingling seamlessly with the classical base. 20.Mannil Intha Kadhal - Keladi Kanmani: Can any SPB list not have this song? The song where this untrained singer sang an entire stanza breathless and did it again in the next stanza too! But the point is not really that it’s a’breathless’ song, it’s the elegance with which this astonishing feat is achieved that makes it one of SPB’s very best songs. Fans of Telugu music, sorry, I’m not into Telugu songs, but SPB’s contribution to Telugu music is just as important. As for Hindi music, though SPB delivered a few hits and for a while was Salman Khan’s voice, I don’t think he ever reproduced his magic in Tamil and Telugu in Hindi music. So, those who like his Hindi songs, if only to appreciate what SPB really is, you must play these twenty songs though the language may be unfamiliar to you.